Ex-EastEnders star Charlie Brooks reveals whether she'll ever return to Albert Square and dishes on her recent reunion with former co-star Sid Owen.

What's this? EastEnders' Janine Butcher and her brother Ricky reunited! We love seeing our favourite soap characters back together again.

But hold on, there are currently no plans for either Janine or Ricky to return to the BBC 1 soap. This reunion actually took place off screen between former co-stars Charlie Brooks and Sid Owen. The pair remain friends and just spent Easter together in France.

“Sid's usually in the kitchen cooking for me. He’s a vegetarian, I think he has been for quite a while," Charlie revealed during an interview on ITV's Lorraine. "He’s always been quite healthy. He cooks well, uses all the right ingredients.”

With strong female characters including Kat Slater (played by Jessie Wallace) and Mel Owen (played by Tamzin Outhwaite) having recently returned to EastEnders, could Walford's wickedest Janine ever come back to cause a whole lot of trouble? The character was last seen in 2014 when she got away with fatally stabbing her husband, Michael Moon.

https://youtu.be/68nZconzIEk

"I don't know what the future holds," says Charlie. "Never say never!"

But for the moment Charlie is concentrating on her new role in a comedy stage play, Monogamy, opposite award-winning actress Janie Dee, who plays a celebrity chef, Caroline Mortimer.

“It’s an exploration of people and relationships, people that are conflicted by their pasts or have anxieties about the future. It’s set in Caroline’s kitchen; she’s a celebrity chef living this incredible, perfect life, and what happens when the cameras stop rolling.

“My character Sally is heavily-medicated … she’s been through a lot, experienced a lot of loss and sadness.”

Monogamy begins a national theatre tour from 2 May to 7 July

Charlie Brooks tells Soaplife about her latest raunchy role, going on tour - and a possible return to EastEnders…

Nothing much ever bothered EastEnders super-bitch Janine Butcher. But the same can’t be said for Charlie Brooks, the actress who plays her. Charlie’s no scaredy-cat - she won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2012 - but performing live on stage is, she says, pretty daunting.

“I’ve just done a play called Contact.com and it was quite terrifying at times because I haven’t done that much theatre before. I’m getting used to it, though, and I love it.”

And you’ve got another play to do, haven’t you?

“I’m in Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey, who also writes scripts for Coronation Street. It’s a play about two young men, Jaimie and Ste, and their blossoming romance in an inner-city housing estate.”

What’s your role?

“I play Sandra, who’s Jamie’s mum and the local barmaid. Beautiful Thing was made into a film in 1996 and I was obsessed with it when I was a kid. I must have watched it about 100 times. I saw [ex-Corrie star] Suranne Jones in the play two years ago in the West End and I really wanted to do it. Now I’m going to and it’s like a dream come true. We’re spending 18 weeks taking it around the country and I’ll be on the road til July. It’s my first ever tour.”

What will happen with your 10-year-old daughter, Kiki, while you’re away?

“She’ll be fine as my family will be with her and so will her dad. We all discussed it before I decided to take the role. Obviously I’ll miss Kiki and she’ll miss me, but quite a few of the venues are commutable from where we live in Surrey, so I’ll be able to get back at night, and she’ll come to see me from time to time. Her school is really supportive of what I’m doing.”

You teach her yourself sometimes, don’t you?

“She attends the drama class I take on a Saturday morning at a local school – not that I’ll be doing it this year, as I’m booked up with work. I love working with kids – firing them up and seeing them come out of themselves. They gain so much confidence through drama and it’s very rewarding to nurture that.”

You spent some time in LA last year, doing a pilot TV show… Would you like to go back?

“It was amazing and I’d love to return, but it would be for a lifestyle choice rather than purely for work. I wouldn’t actively go out there with the intention of breaking America. Those kinds of expectations only lead to disappointment. But it would be great for Kiki and I to have a different life experience.”

Do you know people who live out there?

“I have a few friends out there, including [ex-EastEnder] Patsy Palmer. Her kids love it there. It would be a very cool thing for Kiki and I to do and we may well consider it.” 

Do you think you’ll ever return to EastEnders?

“Yeah, eventually maybe I will. I love the people there – it’s a great place to work. I just felt I needed to do some other stuff – like theatre.”

Are you ambitious?

“I like to feel challenged and to test myself. There’s lots I want to do. If that’s ambition, then I’m most definitely ambitious.”

EastEnders star Charlie Brooks has praised her exit storyline from the BBC soap.

The latest episode saw Janine Butcher (Brooks) being cleared of murdering Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) after setting up Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks) to take the blame.

In a behind-the-scenes video of the soap trial, Charlie said: "I love that she's kind of getting away with murder again, you know, I love that.

"But the fact is that it was self-defence and that he would have killed her if she hadn't have killed him. And there I go defending her again, but it's true."

Director Karl Neilson said of shooting the scenes: "For us it was exciting because it's EastEnders on the road... We're in a location which is a proper location, it feels and sounds and looks exactly like what it is, it's a real court.

"So that helped particularly Charlie and Jessie (Wallace, who plays Kat and was giving evidence) because they had to take the witness stand and give evidence and make it feel like a real court, and I think they really enjoyed it. And it certainly helped me capture that moment as well."

Recently, Charlie said of another possible EastEnders return: "Never say never. I've loved my time on the show and loved playing Janine so I'd hate to think that I might never get to play her again, but it's time for a new challenge in my life."

– Press Association

EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks tells Soaplife that Janine will do pretty much anything to get out of prison!

How does Janine feel as she stands trial for murder?

“Her emotions are all over the place, but her main focus is on getting out and seeing Scarlett again. Janine is tough, but she knows it is going to be hard to watch people give evidence against her, especially her stepbrother, David. He betrayed her and now she is going to have to sit and watch him do it all over again.”

Her deal with Kat is that she’ll retract her statement about Stacey stabbing her if Kat lies about Michael’s murder. Will Janine stick to the deal?

“You never know with Janine. She is not to be trusted, but perhaps prison has changed her. You’ll have to wait and see. Janine is not that bothered about helping Stacey – she is still looking out for number one.”

Alice is also on trial for Michael’s murder. Why isn’t she in court, too?

“The judge informs everyone that Alice won’t be present and is being represented by her barrister. It makes it easier for Janine to go along with her lie if Alice isn’t there reminding her of the truth.”

Is Janine confident that she’ll walk free?

“Janine will fight tooth and nail to stay out of prison and won’t even consider that she might be found guilty. If she is, it will knock her for six. She’s used to getting away with things.”

What’s the first thing you would expect her to do if she gets off?

“She will try to rebuild a life with Scarlett before causing some new mischief. I would like her to get away with it because I think deep down she’s a good person. She did only kill Michael in self-defence, after all.”

Was it nice coming back to wrap up the story?

“Definitely. It’s good to bring the storyline to a conclusion and I think the viewers will enjoy the ending, it’s definitely dramatic!”

EastEnders' Carol Jackson is outraged when she discovers Kat Moon has changed her statement to police to help out Janine Butcher.

The Walford tyrant bumped off husband Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) last year, but tried to frame Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks) for the crime, although both Janine and Alice are now in prison awaiting trial.

Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner) has recently arrived back on the Square, but is hiding out, as she fled from Walford when Janine (Charlie Brooks) lied to the police that she had been stabbed by Stacey when she was unable to prove that Stacey had murdered Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).

Kat (Jessie Wallace) has entered into a dangerous deal on her cousin Stacey's behalf, agreeing that she will change her statement to put Alice further in the frame for killing Michael, in return for Janine dropping her charges against Stacey so that she can move back home.

But a furious Carol (Lindsey Coulson) knows none of this when she gets wind of the news that Kat has helped out Janine and could be sending her niece Alice down for murder.

Unable to believe what she has heard, she storms round to Kat's with Bianca (Patsy Palmer) and Max (Jake Wood) in tow and warns Kat that she won't get away with what she has done.

The scenes are due to screen on EastEnders on March 11 and 14.

EastEnders' Stacey Branning is set to have a showdown with her enemy Janine Butcher.

The single mum, who is played by Lacey Turner, decides to visit her arch-nemesis in prison so she can stop living a lie and get her life back, after returning to Albert Square as a frightened fugitive with her baby daughter.

She concocts the plan with cousin Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).

"Stacey would love to return to Albert Square properly, but she just never thought it would be possible. When Kat tells her the plan, Stacey is shocked - but it's worth considering if it means Stacey can be back with her family again," the actress told Inside Soap.

"She doesn't want to live a lie any more. She's tired of always looking over her shoulder," the 25-year-old added.

Their last encounter ended in Janine stabbing herself and framing Stacey for attempted murder, forcing her to go on the run.

With Stacey in hiding, Kat went to pay Janine a visit - but Stacey decides to meet her face-to-face when Kat's talk fails.

However, Stacey, who has been living under a false identity for the past few years, faces the challenge of having to get inside the prison without her cover being blown.

The scenes will be shown on EastEnders on Tuesday, February 25.

EastEnders actress Jasmyn Banks has reportedly left show scriptwriters with a dilemma after announcing she was not returning to the show for court scenes in Janine's forthcoming trial.

According to the Sunday Mirror the actress - who plays Alice Branning in the soap - had been given the option of returning for the trial, despite her contract ending on Christmas Eve.

However she has now told producers she is not returning, with the paper reporting she is heading for Hollywood in a bid to launch her US acting career.

And the decision is likely to lead to script rewrites, since Alice - who has been behind bars accused of Michael Moon's murder - had been set to confront Janine in court after she was arrested for the crime.

"Jasmyn's decision not to return has thrown scriptwriters into a right old spin," a source told the paper.

"While she wasn’t due to have any speaking roles in Janine’s trial scenes, she was meant to be filmed leaving prison and making appearances at court. It seems she has turned her back on having anything more to do with EastEnders though."

A spokesman denied that big changes would need to be made, saying Alice's role had played 'a very minor part in the conclusion of this storyline'.

He added: "We are not going to confirm the details as we don't want to spoil it for the viewers."

The storyline came to a dramatic head over Christmas after Janine's role in Michael's murder was finally revealed to police.

EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks tells Soaplife that Janine may be down, but she’s not out… not yet! She has a killer plan for dealing with her blackmailer, David.

How much does David want to keep quiet about Janine killing Michael?

“The £250,000 she’s managed to find to buy the pub from Phil! She’s so excited about buying the Vic and has sold everything she owns to raise the money. She can’t believe it when David reveals he recorded her confession about killing Michael on his phone and will go public with it unless she gives him all her money.”

What’s her reaction?

“Shock, horror and total betrayal. Janine pleads with David not to do this and tries to change his mind, but when that doesn’t work, she goes on a rampage trying to find his phone. But she can’t.”

So she decides to get rid of him?

“She tells Billy that David’s threatening her and Scarlett - although she doesn’t say why - and that she’s really scared. Janine turns to Billy because she thinks he’ll do anything for her.”

Even kill David?

“There’s a point at which Billy will stop and go no further, and that’s shown in these Christmas episodes - so Janine’s forced to go it alone.”

What happens?

“She texts David on Christmas Night and arranges to meet him. He thinks she’s going to give him the money. David’s waiting outside Butcher's Joints for her, but there’s no sign. Suddenly a car appears and mows him down. Janine is behind the wheel.”

Is David dead?

“Maybe…maybe not!”

Is this the end for Janine?

“Not yet. The Christmas scenes aren’t my exit scenes. There are more to come…”

EastEnders' Janine Butcher could be set to silence yet another victim when she decides to put a stop to David Wicks revealing her murderous secret on Christmas Day.

David (Michael French) has been looking for a business loan and thinks his luck is in when he manages to get a recorded confession from Janine (Charlie Brooks) that she stabbed husband Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) to death.

Thinking he can use it to blackmail his one-time stepsister, David demands £250,000 to keep him from revealing their conversation where Janine admitted that jailed Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks) was not Michael's killer.

Janine is desperate to stop him and tries to get Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) to act for her, but when he refuses she arranges her own Christmas Day meeting with David.

On the way to see what Janine wants, David hastily stashes the phone containing the evidence against Janine into Tiffany's pocket. David goes off to meet Janine, but she is waiting in a car and smashes into him, knocking him to the ground and leaving viewers waiting to see if he has survived - and what will become of the recording.

Charlie said of her character to Inside Soap: "Janine trusts David - he's virtually family, after all - and doesn't think he could ever betray her in such a way.

"The anger she feels when she makes the decision to run him over comes from a place of utter betrayal. It forces her to behave completely irrationally."

Click here to see the storyline in photos.

Janine Butcher is about to fall into a wickedly conceived trap set by David Wicks in EastEnders.

David intervenes as Joey attacks Janine when she refuses to reveal the truth of Michael's death, but David quickly works out she is the murderer. He deviously works his way into her confidence and after an emotional exchange over Pat, she reveals she DID murder Michael.

Little does she know that Davd is secretly recording the conversation...

Watch the scoop on EastEnders:

EastEnders bitch Janine Butcher is set to show her softer side when she invites Danny Pennant over for a spot of romance.

Janine, played by Charlie Brooks, is furious when she realises that Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) was only flirting with her to try to get her on side so that she would let baby Scarlett spend one night a week with him.

After their evening of fake flirting she decides she doesn't want to be alone and makes a call to Danny (Gary Lucy) who comes over and kisses her on her doorstep.

But when Michael sees the kiss, he feels angry and jealous that Janine has turned her attentions to someone else so quickly - although Danny's reasons for kissing Janine may not just be to do with blossoming love.

Danny previously had a fling with Syed Masood (Marc Elliott) and Gary recently told This Morning: "He's quite complex when it comes to his sexual preference. Last time he was seen, he made a beeline for Janine and realised that she was the one with the money on the Square.

"I think he's quite charming, and as the weeks go on, we learn a little bit more about Danny and what lengths he's willing to go to, to get what he wants. Whether it's a romantic thing or whether it's just purely for his own personal gain remains to be seen.

"I think he's quite easy to adapt to any situation and he's quite charming and confident in himself, in both ways - in his sexuality and his business mind. At the beginning it's quite a fun relationship and Janine thinks that he's going to introduce her to a lot of rich city boys.

"I think with him, nothing is as it seems. At the beginning at least, you're always left guessing about what he's thinking and what he's up to at any time."

Janine and Danny kiss in the EastEnders episode screening on BBC One on Friday, August 9.

Charlie Brooks could quit EastEnders for a third time to chase a Hollywood career.

The actress who plays superbitch Janine Butcher in EastEnders has her sights set on a film career, according to The Sun.

The newspaper claimed Charlie, 32, has told friends she wants to try her luck in America.

An insider told The Sun: "Charlie wants to give a LA a try and won't be satisfied until she does. As far as she understands, there will be an option to return. Janine is a ratings winner, and she's hugely regarded among the cast and crew."

Charlie joined EastEnders as Janine in 1999, left in 2004 and came back again in 2008.

She quit for a second time in September 2012, and spent six months out, taking part in ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and travelling with her eight-year-old daughter Kiki.

In February she started filming EastEnders again.

Charlie has not confirmed or denied the quitting rumours, but told The Sun: "I've only just returned to EastEnders and I'm really happy. I've some big storylines coming up and am really excited by them."

EastEnders' Shane Richie (Alfie Moon) picked up the TV Bafta on May 12 for best soap and continuing drama and afterwards mocked soap actors who leave to pursue Hollywood roles.

He said: "They all want to come back. I did the same, 'I'm going to Hollywood' - I got to Borehamwood!"